UH football practices produce starters

With the defensive unit the talk of Saturday, UH running back Bryce Beall had his work cut out for him.

With the defensive unit the talk of Saturday, UH running back Bryce Beall had his work cut out for him.

Photo: Dave Rossman, For The Chronicle

Photo: Dave Rossman, For The Chronicle

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With the defensive unit the talk of Saturday, UH running back Bryce Beall had his work cut out for him.

With the defensive unit the talk of Saturday, UH running back Bryce Beall had his work cut out for him.

Photo: Dave Rossman, For The Chronicle

UH football practices produce starters

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Kevin Sumlin wouldn't want to portray it as any kind of special message. Think of it as the day-to-day reality he would like to impose on the Houston Cougars football program.

What happens on the practice field doesn't stay on the practice field. What happens on the practice field — not pedigree, not past performance — is the great arbiter in who gets to play on Saturdays.

Sixteen preseason practices led to a sight worthy of a double-take when the first-team defense took the field Saturday for the final preseason scrimmage. At right defensive end was Radermon Scypion, a true freshman from Port Arthur Memorial. At the left end was Zeke Riser, a true freshman from LaVernia.

“Based on practice … that's why those two freshmen were starting,” said Sumlin, who is heading into his second season as the UH coach. “We don't do things for show or statement. We do things because you earn it.”

Freshmen impress

Riser was particularly conspicuous, breaking through for two sacks and pressuring the quarterback another time. Senior Tyrell Graham and sophomore Michael Ray — front-runners to start at defensive end when camp began — took the field with the second-team defense.

“Zeke Riser is getting better every day,” Sumlin said. “Scypion has been pretty solid. You see him run off the field, and then you see Tyrell Graham run across the field and make a tackle. That's what you want out of a football team.

“You want guys who want to get on the field. I think we're getting to the point where if you don't get it done, we'll put somebody else in there and they'll do it. And you might not get back in.”

The defensive line isn't the only place the Cougars shook up the status quo. Junior Loyce Means started at left cornerback ahead of senior Brandon Brinkley, the Conference USA leader in passes defensed last season.

Junior Jamal Robinson, who has as many knee surgeries (two) as tackles (two) since arriving at UH in 2006, has emerged as the stealth candidate to start at right cornerback. Junior-college transfer Devin Mays has been in practice barely a week because he had to wait for the NCAA Clearinghouse to sign off on his eligibility.

Practice a proving ground

“Everything is based on practice,” Sumlin said. “You'd better show up, and you'd better handle your business every day.”

Senior Carson Blackmon, the starter at right corner in the Armed Forces Bowl, has settled in nicely at free safety and had the only interception of the scrimmage.

“He's playing well,” Sumlin said. “And I think No. 32 has had a really solid camp.”

No. 32 would be Robinson, who has torn the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee twice. Robinson began practicing in pads in the workouts leading up to the bowl and has gradually made an impression on the coaches.

“Guys have got to have their A game,” Sumlin said, “or they're going to be standing next to me.”